Customer Reviews

Israel

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3 star:		(1)
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This is a great compilation and is highly recommended. The song by the group Zafa for example whose lyrics are in an Arabic that is a strong challenge to French as the language of love...The songs in Hebrew are equally good and generally strong choices, such as Moshe Ben Ari, Idan Raichel, David Broza, etal. One or two songs, such as Chipopo don't do very much for me, but perhaps I will come back to it later and give it another chance.
It would have been recommended for Putumayo to provide besides the bios of each musician or group in English, French and Spanish to have provided the lyrics to each song in Hebrew, Arabic and the other languages noted as those of us who are conversant in one or more of those languages would certainly appreciate the effort and have the songs appeal on an entirely different level.

As the Jewish Country, one might not expect to find much musical diversity in Israel. If thats the case, then you are very wrong. On this compilation from World Music label Putumayo, a wide and eclectic variety of Israeli musicians are collected together, showing the astounding variety of Israeli music today. From the mellow Greek influenced guitar of Hadas Dagul to the exotic Yemeni vibes of Zafa to the sauve, Oriental lounge sounds of musical collective Tea Packs, this showcases an incredibly vibrant musical scene in Israel today. Naturally, the Ethiopian-Israeli crossover Idan Raichel Project makes an appearance here, as does the Hebrew-Qawwali fusion of Sheva (which unites Judaism and Islam together). But the biggest surprise was from the inclusion of Palestinian Arab singer Amal Murukus. As with other Putumayo releases, there is an Israeli recipe for shakshuka, and 1% of sales from the CD is donated to Latet-Israeli Humanitarian Relief charity. If you want to hear a slice of musical life in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, I strongly recommending this CD out for insight into this exotic and diverse Middle Eastern nation.

Lived in Israel for 7 months and got to love the originality, intelligence, and grittiness of the Israeli people and of course, the amazing land. This CD just brought it all back to me in the best of ways - just enough of the mix of cultures, Jewish, Arab and North African with a touch of world spirituality and reggae. Great CD, highly recommended. David Broza, Idan Raichel - some of the best musicians out there are contained in this CD.

I have to say that I did not purchase this from Amazon. I bought it during a trip to Israel in June 2008. One could say that it was purchased as a memento of the trip. It turned out to be one of those recordings that grew on me tremendously. I listen to it all the time. Kind of odd. As I don't speak Hebrew, I have no idea what they are saying in the lyrics. But then again, music is a universal language. If one would like to experience the music of a different culture, this is a great CD and the price is attractive.

When one thinks of Israel, one tends to think of the on going conflict that is occuring between the country and Palestine. Most people (like myself) would think that Israel would have have a vibrant music scene but they do. Putumayo has compiled a twelve song compilation richly filled with a diverse selection of artists from Israel. I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard on the cd. I was expecting to hear middle eastern influenced music but instead what I heard was an array of sounds ranging from French to reggae. The music is very mellow and is nice to enjoy while drinking a cup of coffee in the morning. The diverse musical sounds I heard is proof that there is a vibrant, diverse musical scene in Israel and it flourishes despite the endless conflict. One of my personal favorite songs on the album is "Ha'rikud Ha'muzar Shel Ha'lev" by Rona Kenan with Gidi Gov. The melodies have an almost Parisian sound to it and I simply love the deep vocals by Gidi Gov. My other personal favorite song on the album is "Mi Ma'amakim" by The Idan Raichel Project. The song gives me the chills. It is beautiful. I love the airyness of the melodies and vocals. Putumayo did a wonderful job at proving that Israel shouldn't be just thought of for the ongoing conflict with Palestine but rather for its diverse music scene.

"Israel" is a first for Putumayo World Music-it's the first Middle Eastern country to have its own compilation. Putumayo also chose a land known for stirring up controversy,considering former Pres. Jimmy Carter's recent book as well as mainline Protestant denominations discussing divestment from it. Fortunately, Putumayo bypasses the politics and goes for the music instead. The selections are wonderfully diverse,and there's even a savory recipe!

"Israel" is distinctive for its acoustic flavor. The opening song,Etta Ankri's "Nilkach Meemeni Sod" is a lilting acoustic reggae song. Itay Pearl&David Broza contribute folksy acoustic guitar songs. Hadas Dagul's "Seret Elem" weaves Israeli folk music with Brazilian bossa nova. Ronan Kenan&Gidi Gov sing a simple duet about flirtation and longing. The Grateful Dead jam bands of Israel, Moshav Band&Sheva,contribute psychedelic,trancey-songs based on the Psalms and Genesis. Zafa blends Yemenite chants with Indian music in her mesmerizing "Tariki." Amal Murkus,a Palestinian Christian,sings the equally hypnotic "Ta'alu." The compilation closes with the Idan Raichel Project's haunting "Out of the Depths."

Putumayo's "Israel" is an enchanting journey to this diverse,fascinating Middle Eastern country. It invites further exploration with soothing,acoustic sounds.This is one of Putumayo's best compilations of 2007! It was released in time for Rosh Hashanah-the Jewish New Year--and worth enjoying year around.

If you enjoy world music you will love this cd. It is so refreshing to hear beautiful, creative sounds coming from a country who is dominated in the news with constant negativity. This music will transport you to a peaceful vacation spot with middle eastern, african, and island sensibilities. I love listening to it over and over again.

Having known little to nothing about the current and modern Israeli music scene, I found this CD an excellent introduction to the genre. The majority of the songs here are highly enjoyable, and warrant repeated play - as is typical of the Putumayo label.

I love Israeli sense of style in music. All the class of urban life
with a middle east sound thrown in. What's not to love?

There are cuts on this album that are truly light hearted, even though I can't make out
all the words. Some cuts are much more intense.
But all in all, it is well done, .....on the cutting edge.

Even though I can't make out all the Hebrew words, I still love the sense of the songs;
the beat, the style, the intent. All of this comes across even though some
words are obscured to me.

There's a sense of true artistry, and each artist has their own sense of what "style"
means to them. That's the beauty of this album.

Putumayo has rounded up the best, and compiled these truely great selections.
If you've ever loved a song you didn't understand completely, and want to experience
something different than what is going on in the USA, then you must absolutely
get this. I feel like I'm back in Tel Aviv walking down the street on a sunny
day, headed for the Mediterranean beaches! It's the urban beat of the promenade,
on the water front of the Tel Aviv environs!

My friends ask, "What is this you're playing?", I tell them what it is, how
much fun it is, and how much I love it. and then they pay attention to the
music and how great it is. Everyone wants a copy! (I send them to you!)

Putumayo--thanks for compiling such a wonderful collection. I'll play it until
you can see the air through the disc!

Love this product and the seller is super to work with. We'll do more business in the future!